Vols top Hogs in series opener

Arkansas pitcher Blaine Knight throws against Auburn on Friday, April 21, 2017, during an NCAA baseball game at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/AL.com)
Arkansas pitcher Blaine Knight throws against Auburn on Friday, April 21, 2017, during an NCAA baseball game at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Ala. (Julie Bennett/AL.com)

It took about 40 hours, but Tennessee took Game 1 of its series against No. 15 Arkansas on Saturday.

The Volunteers scored twice on Chad Spanberger's sixth-inning error and beat the Razorbacks 5-4 in a game that was twice suspended because of rain. A second game between the teams was postponed and a start time has not been determined.

Arkansas (34-13, 13-9 SEC) lost a series opener for the third consecutive week after winning five straight. The Razorbacks had taken a 4-3 lead on Dominic Fletcher's solo home run in the top of the sixth.

Tennessee (25-18, 9-14)) scored three times off Arkansas starter Blaine Knight when the game resumed in the bottom of the second inning. Will Heflin's RBI single tied the game and Jeff Moberg's two-run double gave the Vols the lead.

Knight took a no-decision by throwing 5 innings, allowing 3 runs on 5 hits and 3 walks. Jake Reindl was the losing pitcher and allowed two unearned runs in 1/3 inning.

Tennessee starter Hunter Martin earned the win in a 6 2/3-inning start. Zach Linginfelter recorded the final two outs to earn his second save.

The Razorbacks tied the game 3-3 in the top of the fifth on Jake Arledge's RBI triple to plate Fletcher, and Spanberger's RBI single to score Arledge.

Arkansas had taken a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning Thursday when Jared Gates reached on a single, and advanced three times on two wild pitches and an error.

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